General Resources

Welcome to our Resource Page

You will find links to a variety of web-related resources in this section. Fairfield SEPTA, Inc. does not endorse or recommend any links listed here. The various resources listed on this page are for informational purposes only and are provided as a matter of courtesy. Please carefully consider the appropriateness of any particular resource to your personal needs. All resources are offered as opportunities for people to connect with available information.

The links in each section will take you away from the Fairfield SEPTA, website. Fairfield SEPTA is not responsible for content or accuracy of any listed resource or website.

You may send suggested link information by contacting us at info@FairfieldSEPTA.org. Not all suggested links can be used, however, all will be considered. Resources will be added as time permits.

Inspirational

Dan Malloy, Connecticut GovernorConnecticut Governor Dan Malloy, who still struggles with reading and calls writing "almost impossible," credits his lifelong struggle with dyslexia for developing listening skills and memory tricks he uses every day with constituents and legislators. Read the full story.

Patrick Henry HughesPatrick Henry Hughes was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder: arms that could not straighten, legs that would never be able to walk, and most devastating of all, permanent blindness. He had been born with no eyes. Watch this video on YouTube and enjoy these few moments of inspiration.

A Comedic TV Talent Turns the Tables on OprahMeet Zach Anner, a 26-year-old filmmaker from Austin, Tex., who just won his own television show on Oprah Winfrey's new network. He's handsome, smart and funny - oh, and he gets around in a wheelchair. Mr. Anner has cerebral palsy, "the sexiest of the palsies," as he puts it in his audition video.

Boy Inspires Kids - Kids Inspire Us AllMatt has Spastic Cerebral Palsy, but opted to run in Field Day at Colonial Hills Elementary School despite being given the option to sit it out and despite the incredible challenge of his disability. What transpires is a boy who is filled with determination and a school of children who spontaneously come together and inspire Matt and everyone of us to do and be better. Watch this video on YouTube and enjoy these few moments of inspiration.

Conner and Cayden Long - Sportskids of the YearSeven-year-old Cayden Long, who has cerebral palsy, can't walk or talk without help. But his 9-year-old brother Conner has found a way for him to participate in sports. The brothers race in triathlons -- together. The Sports Illustrated Kids interview with the Long family, tells the story of Conner's heroism and perseverance. Listen to their story.

Connecticut State Department of Public Heath - Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) and Connecticut's Medical Home Initiativewww.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3138&Q=387702&PM=1Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) are those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional condition and require health and related services beyond that required for children in general.

General Disability and Specific Disability Resources

A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Servicewww.uconnucedd.orgThrough our association and partnership with the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Health Center, we are a premier Center in the northeast for innovative teaching, research, and technical assistance enhancing the quality of services and support for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Booksharewww.bookshare.orgBookshare helps students with print disabilities who cannot access traditional books to read. How? Through technology, Bookshare brings books to life, allowing students to access books in different ways. Through an award from the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. students with qualified print disabilities can join Bookshare for FREE.

BrainandSpinalCord.orgwww.brainandspinalcord.orgBrainandSpinalCord.org was created as a knowledge-base for brain injury and spinal cord injury survivors to help answer these kinds of questions.

Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center (ASRC)www.ct-asrc.org/ASRC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization run by autism family members. ASRC provides a variety of services to individuals with ASD, their families and interested professionals.Those services include family support, training, development of new resources, community awareness and much more. Contact ASRC for more information at (203) 265-7717 or visit their website.

Connecticut Community Providers Associationwww.ccpa-inc.orgThis organization provides services and supports for people with disabilities including people with addictions, mental illness, developmental, and physical disabilities. CCPA operates three divisions, developmental disabilities, behavioral health, and medical and is the lead advocate for rehabilitiation and behavioral health service providers, supporting services for people with disabilities at the state legislature and with state agencies.

Connecticut Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf (CCOSD)ccosd.orgThe CCOSD has one major goal - to serve the deaf and hard of hearing residents of Connecticut through their local and autonomous member organizations of or for the Deaf.

Connecticut Down Syndrome Congresswww.ctdownsyndrome.orgThe Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress is a welcoming and supportive network of over 350 parents, numerous professionals and over 20 advocacy groups statewide.

CT Families for Effective Autism Treatmentwww.ctfeat.org/ConnecticuT Families for Effective Autism Treatment" (CT FEAT) is a non-profit organization formed by parents and family members to provide information and support to the families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticutwww.epilepsyct.com/The Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut is dedicated to improving the lives of people with epilepsy and their families.

FAVOR - Family Advocacy Organization for Children's Mental and Behavioral Healthwww.favor-ct.orgFAVOR is a non-profit Statewide Family Advocacy Organization serving families, children and youth dealing with a broad spectrum of behavioral and mental health needs, by providing policy and family advocacy.

LD Onlinewww.ldonline.orgCheck out this website for information regarding Non-verbal learning disorders and more...

NAMI National (National Alliance on Mental Illness)www.nami.orgNAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country.

NAMI-CT (National Alliance on Mental Illness)www.namict.orgNAMI-CT is the only Connecticut organization affiliated with NAMI, the nation's leading grassroots family and consumer organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with serious mental illnesses and their families.

NAMI-Fairfield (National Alliance on Mental Illness)www.namifairfield.orgNAMI-Fairfield is affiliated with NAMI (national) and NAMI-CT

National Center for Learning Disabilitieswww.ncld.orgThe National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) works to ensure that the nation's 15 million children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities have every opportunity to succeed in school, work, and life.

John Halliganwww.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/index.htmJohn Halligan has been outspoken about the need for more education and prevention of bullying, cyber bullying and teen suicide throughout the United States and Canada. His son's story and his accomplishments in response to this tragedy have been told world-wide by print, radio and TV

Olweus Bullying Prevention Programwww.olweus.org/public/index.pageThe Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and develop.

StopBullying.govwww.stopbullying.govStopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.

United Waywww.211ct.org/informationlibrary/Documents/Bullying%20lb.aspTeachers, parents and kids need to remember that Connecticut has a law that protects kids from being bullied at school. This law, Public Act 02-119, requires that each local and regional board of education develop a policy to address the existence of bullying in its schools.

Gifted and Talented

National Association for Gifted Childrenwww.nagc.orgThe National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is a membership organization that invests its resources to encourage parents, train teachers, and educate administrators and policy makers on how to develop and support gifted children and on what’s at stake if high-potential learners are not challenged and encouraged.

National Society for the Gifted and Talentedwww.nsgt.org/index.aspThe National Society for the Gifted & Talented (NSGT) provides information on resources that support gifted and talented children and youth.

Local Organizations offering Programming and Support

Care To Connectwww.caretoconnectct.com/index.htmlCare To Connect promotes personal growth and the strengthening of relationships, for children and their families, in a small relaxed setting with therapeutic services designed to foster connections to themselves, each other, their schools and their communities.

Harbor Light Foundationwww.harborlightfoundation.org/Harbor_Light_Foundation,_Inc./Welcome.htmlHarbor Light Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe and beneficial programming for children.Now open - Harbor Light Therapy and Social Center. The center was created to service children with Autism and related disorders as well as their typically developing peers.

The Kennedy Centerwww.thekennedycenterinc.orgThe Kennedy Center is a not-for-profit rehabilitation agency supporting more than 1,500 children and adults with disabilities with vocational, residential, educational, therapeutic, social and recreational programs throughout the State of Connecticut.

Neighborhood Studioswww.nstudios.orgNeighborhood Studios (NS) offers innovative after-school and summer arts programs to students from kindergarten through post-high school in Bridgeport and its surrounding towns.

The Pilot Housewww.thepilothouse.orgThe Pilot House is a non-profit organization in Fairfield, CT, that provides programs for children with special needs. These programs are designed to promote skill building, self confidence, self expression, but most of all having fun. Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for each child to experience success, and to learn skills that will enable them to access community based programs.

Ray Greenberg Basketball League - Fairfield PALA family run basketball program for special athletes.Contact Drew Bickel at drew@gowconsulting.com for more information.

Rehabilitation Associates, Inc.rehabilitationassociatesinc.com/We have been providing rehabilitation services to people with disabilities for over 25 years. We offer a variety of therapies including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language services, Clinical Social Work and Nutrition services.

SafeReturn Networkfpdct.com/site/safereturn.htmlThe SafeReturn Network is a computer database developed to assist emergency personnel in locating community members who suffer from conditions which make them susceptible to "wandering," and safely returning them home.

Members of the community may register their family members or friends who suffer from conditions that make them susceptible to "wandering" (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's, autism). Officers can search the database using a variety of variables, such as name, physical characteristics and age. In addition, the database contains photographs of each individual. This is especially useful in the event an officer encounters someone who is unable to communicate. The database is accessible/viewable from the mobile computer terminal within the officer's patrol vehicle.

The Safe Return Network was completed in May 2013 and implemented by the Fairfield Police Department in January 2014. Registration forms are available at Fairfield Police Headquarters (100 Reef Road) and online at www.fpdct.com. For more information on the SafeReturn Network, please contact the Fairfield Police Department at (203) 254-4800.

St. Vincents Developmental Serviceswww.stvincentsbehavioralhealth.orgSt. Vincent's Behavioral Health Services is committed to providing exceptional care for the mind, body and spirit as an integrated continuum of behavioral health and addiction services for individuals and their families.

St. Vincents Special Needs Serviceswww.stvincentsspecialneeds.org/St. Vincents Special Needs Services is a major provider in Southern Connecticut of specialized lifelong education and therapeutic programs for children and adults with multiple developmental disabilities and special health care needs.

Smart Kids with Learning Disabilitieswww.SmartKidswithLD.orgSmart Kids with Learning Disabilities is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the parents of children with learning disabilities (LD) and attention-deficit disorder (ADHD). Our mission is to educate, guide and inspire families of children with learning disabilities or ADHD and to change the perception of learning disabilities as a stigmatizing condition.

Southern Connecticut Storm Hockeywww.ctstormhockey.orgSouthern Connecticut Storm Special Hockey is dedicated to providing children from the age of five through young adult with a devlopmental disability the opportunity to play ice hockey. Our therapeutic program teaches skating and hockey skills, as well as gives the player the opportunity to play a team sport.

The Southfield Center for Developmentwww.southfieldcenter.comWe are a family-centered, interdisciplinary practice dedicated to providing comprehensive evaluation and care across a wide range of ages and challenges. Our team of more than 20 skilled practitioners offers an integrated approach to the learning, emotional, behavioral, and medical issues that impact our children.

STAR Inc.www.starinc-lightingtheway.orgSTAR provides services to people with developmental disabilities and serves people primarily in Norwalk, Westport, Weston, Wilton, Darien and New Canaan.

Children's Therapy and Learning Centerwww.childtherapycenter.comThe Children's Therapy and Learning Center in Fairfield, CT, is dedicated to meeting the complex needs of children and adults who experience learning-related vision, sensory, motor and speech and language difficulties. Children's Therapy and Learning Center provides comprehensive and individualized care through the collaborative efforts of our interdisciplinary team of skilled professionals.

Wakeman Boys and Girls Clubwww.wakemanclub.orgSince 1913, Wakeman Boys and Girls Club has been dedicated to enhancing the physical, social, and emotional development of area youth through programs that perpetuate sound citizenship.

Camps

Camp Akeelawww.campakeela.comCamp Akeela is a co-ed, overnight sleepaway camp in Vermont. Akeela campers are bright, creative boys and girls ages 9 - 17 who have difficulty connecting with their peers. Most of our campers have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or a non verbal learning disability (NLD or NVLD). Many are undiagnosed but are described as "quirky" and share some characteristics with those on the very highest functioning end of the autism spectrum.

Camp Altitudewww.altitudefamilies.comCamp Altitude offers two-week summer camp experiences in New Jersey and California for boys and girls with social cognitive challenges including: verbal and nonverbal learning disabilities, ADHD, Asperger's, and High Functioning Autism. Camp Altitude is geared towards children and teenagers who are entering the 6th through 12th grades.

Camp Calumetwww.calumet.org/Special Needs Camping Program. The focus of the Special Needs Camping Program is to allow children ages 8-21 with particular physical, emotional, or developmental challenges to enjoy a mainstream camp experience by sharing cabins and tents with resident campers, taking part in all regular camp programs, and learning about G-d's love.

Camp Huntingtonwww.camphuntington.comCamp Huntington is a co-ed, residential program for children and young adults with special learning and developmental needs. We serve children and young adults with: Learning and Developmental Disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disabilities (PDD), and other special needs. Our campus is located in the beautiful hamlet of High Falls, New York within the Catskill Mountain region.

Camp Ramapowww.ramapoforchildren.org/campRamapo for Children is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit program which annually serves over 5,000 children and adolescents identified as at-risk or with special needs.

Fairfield Parks & Rec Dept. Special Playgrounds Camp K-12www.fairfieldct.org/content/2765/2777/3785.aspxThe Special Summer Playground Program is for any child enrolled in a Fairfield Public School Special Education Program. Daily activities include quiet and active games, arts and crafts, beach days, movies, exercise, on-site special events and trips.

Hole in the Wall Gangwww.holeinthewallgang.orgIn 1988, Paul Newman opened The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut so that children coping with serious illnesses could have a special hideout where they could simply be kids. Each year, 2,500 are served onsite and 19,000 visits by the Hospital Outreach Program bring the fun and friendship of Camp into more than 20 sites throughout the Northeast, all free of charge.

Summit Campwww.summitcamp.comSummit Camp is a summer sleepaway camp for boys and girls, ages 8-19, with issues of attention. These may include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and/or ADHD), Aspergers syndrome, awkward social skills, verbal or non-verbal learning disabilities (NVLD), and/or mild social or emotional concerns. Some of our campers may also have Tourette's syndrome, O.C.D., and /or mild mood issues. Summit Travel works with teens, ages 15-19, who have similar issues.

Advocacy and Support

Connecticut Family Support Networkwww.ctfsn.orgThe Connecticut Family Support Network exists to help families raising children with disabilities and special health care needs.

Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)www.cpacinc.orgConnecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Inc. (CPAC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that offers information and support to families of children with any disability or chronic illness, age birth to 26. Resources section includes a local list of support groups

Connecticut PTAwww.ctpta.org/Useful information and interactive communication tools to help busy parents help their children succeed. Includes quizzes, polls, discussion groups and articles on parenting and education subjects.

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rightswww.pacer.org/index.aspPACER (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) Center was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents and families facing similar challenges. PACER is staffed primarily by parents of children with disabilities and works in coalition with 18 disability organizations.

State Education Resource Center (SERC)ctserc.org/s/SERC provides professional development and information dissemination in the latest research and best practices to educators, service providers, and families throughout the state, as well as job-embedded technical assistance and training within schools, programs, and districts.

Fairfield SEPTA Meeting on TransitionClick here for the PowerPoint presentation from the Transition presentation.

Navigating College Handbookwww.navigatingcollege.orgNavigating College is an introduction to the college experience written by Autistic adults who've been there.

NEBA (New England Business Associates)www.nebaworks.comNEBA (New England Business Associates) is a private, non-profit corporation that works to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce.

OAR (Organization for Autism Research)www.researchautism.org/index.aspThe Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is delighted to announce the Schwallie Family Scholarship, to support qualified individuals with autism or Asperger Syndrome pursuing post-secondary education. Visit the website for more information.

SPED*NET New Canaanwww.spednet.orgRESPECT program information and other listing of events in Fairfield County.

Transitioning to CollegeClick here for a presentation on the transition to college and how it compares to high school.

Youth Works (The Work Place Inc.)Offers 17-21 year olds work force development.Contact Jennifer Colon at jcolon@workplace.org for more information.

SEN Teacherwww.senteacher.org/SEN Teacher provides cost-free teaching and learning resources for students with special needs and learning disabilities. Many resources here may also be of use to educators of primary and elementary students.

Special Education Resources for General Educatorsserge.ccsso.orgThis website was designed to provide general classroom educators with quick access to information and professional development about addressing the needs of students who have disabilities and special education.

Other Resources

Examples of Materials That Can Be Adapted For Therapywww.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster2/sptherapy.htmlThis is an amazing comprehensive resource website. You'll find a collection of web reources for activities to aid Speech Therapy (primarily). The resources are broken down by the population targeted (autism, stuttering, hearing deficits, ESL, etc). For teachers, therapists and parents too.

Growing Up Social: Exploring How Social Communication and language develop over time . . . and strategies to help!Click here to view the presentation given by Michelle Garcia Winner, M.A., CCC-SLPwww.socialthinking.com

Inclusion and the Other Kids: Here's What Research Shows so Far About Inclusion's Effect on Nondisabled StudentsClick here to read the report.

Making Friends: Assisting Children's Early Relationshipsfpg.unc.edu/node/290The FPG Child Development Institute has published a Snapshot entitled Making Friends: Assisting Children's Early Relationships, which summarizes a book chapter by Barbara Davis Goldman and Virginia Buysse on friendships between very young children and between children with and without disabilities.

Washington Learning Systemswww.walearning.comFree parent-child activity materials are available for downloading. Click on the purple button that says "Free Parent Education Handouts" on the home page. The materials are specifically designed to address the three key skills of 1) language development, 2) phonological awareness, and 3) general print awareness.